“They've played their two games against Juventus and Bayern. They compete and we know that they will compete against us tomorrow as well. So there will be some similarities. They have their identity, a really robust, compact structure in the league. They've had an amazing run since 2024, I think."

Baptista: “Playing at home and being a team that is a contender to reach the final stages of this competition  – it's natural to see them [Arsenal] as favourites to control the game, but that means very little to me as a coach. 

"I think we will create many difficulties for Arsenal, just as we did a year ago at the Estadio da Luz, against a good team. It will be a good game."

TEAM NEWS

Renée said in her pre-match press conference that Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang won't be back in time for this fixture, while Frida Maanum is progressing but tomorrow comes too soon. Kim Little, however, is back in the squad.

FACTS AND STATS

We have won 10 of our previous 13 home games in the group-league stage of the UWCL (L3), including each of our last three; each of our last six such fixtures have been decided by a single goal.

Benfica have won just three of their previous 15 away matches in the UWCL (D2 10), however, one of those victories came in their most recent such outing (2-1 at Juventus on MD1).

No side has made more interceptions in this season’s UWCL than Benfica (33, also Paris FC), while only Real Madrid (11) have intercepted fewer passes than us this term (13).

Georgia Stanway scored and assisted on her UWCL debut for us against Paris FC, just her second game with a goal and an assist in the competition after December 2022 (for Bayern v Rosengard) - Stanway has been involved in four goals in her two UWCL games against Benfica (2 goals, 2 assists), her most against an opponent.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Ivana Projkovska from North Macedonia has been appointed to take charge of Wednesday’s match, assisted by Elena Soklevska-Ilievski and Alexandra Vargova, with Sabina Bolic the Fourth Official.

Projkovska was among the officials for the 2025 Champions League final, in which we beat Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon to become European champions for the second time in our history.

Momcilo Markovic is on VAR duties alongside Deborah Anex.

Referee: Ivana Projkovska

Assistant Referees:

Elena Soklevska-Ilievski and Alexandra Vargova

Fourth Official:

Sabina Bolic

 VAR:

Momcilo Markovic

Assistant VAR:

Deborah Anex

HOW TO WATCH

Supporters in the UK can catch this match live on Disney +. 

Check out our how to watch article for the full list of broadcasters showing the game around the world.

LAST TIME WE MET

Our first ever game against Benfica came in last season’s Champions League league phase, when we won 2-0 away from home thanks to goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo at Estadio da Luz.

We would go on to finish fifth in the league phase, having to reach the knockout phase by beating OH Leuven over two legs in the play-offs, before we knocked Chelsea out of the quarter-finals and were beaten by Lyon in the semis.